Why 'Beautiful' fits on Relapse

[chiasmus]

I've read people on here saying recently that they don't think the song 'beautiful' fits on the album relapse, and that it sticks out from the rest of the material. When I first listened through relapse, 'beautiful' did indeed strike me as being very different thematically and in how it sounded compared to the other tracks.

I don't want to say that it is right or wrong for the song to be there, but I can perhaps provide justification for why it was included. There is a poem called 'Vultures' by a guy called Chinua Achebe which describes how even in the darkest of places there still exists a shred of warmth. The poem talks about two vultures, and how even though they are ugly creatures that feed on rotting flesh they find comfort and companionship with one another. It also uses the example of a concentration-camp guard, who after committing horrendous acts of evil at his work, stops on his way home to buy a chocolate for his beloved child. It is showing how there is always a chink of 'good' in everything, however 'bad' that thing might be overall. (I use the terms 'good' and 'bad' loosely here)

The line from the poem 'praise bounteous providence if you will that grants even an ogre a tiny glow-worm (of) tenderness' is one that I think can be applied to the album Relapse. In amongst the deranged and maniacal exploits of eminem's serial killer persona there is still a morsel of good; the song 'beautiful'. Can 'beautiful' be viewed as the 'glow-worm of tenderness' in the ogre that is the rest of the album? In saying 'don't let em say you ain't beautiful' is eminem not convincing himself that he can escape the dark places that drugs have taken him to? Perhaps the song was supposed to be the faint light at the end if the tunnel, and for that reason, perhaps it's inclusion on the album is justified.

[xxTrigger1989xx]

It fits conceptually because it's the moment where Em realizes that it doesn't matter what other people say in the story. The songs take a different tone, and he goes back to his "normal voice" from Beautiful onward. Coincidence? No, Beautiful is on there for a reason. His voice and the beat might not fit, but if you look at Relapse like I do (a story) then Beautiful makes sense

[KieranLewisEM]

In no way shape off form does beautiful fit on relapse at all its way out off a place on a concept album. Regardless if you like or dont like the song , it doesn't fit one bit.

[xxTrigger1989xx]

^ It depends on how you look at Relapse. You probably see it differently than I do. Beautiful fits for me, especially on a concept album such as Relapse. Has no one else honestly noticed that during Must Be The Ganja, he starts to lose the accent? For the rest of the album, the tone is much different than the other part of the album

[flyingmonkey10]

it doesn't fit with the album concept (which would be serial killer) but it's an fantastic song nonetheless

[xxTrigger1989xx]

But it's NOT a 100% serial-killer album...MOST of it is, but some of it isn't. It actually has a story, has a purpose, and has an ending. Beautiful FITS in because he stops listening to others. Why is no one seeing this?

[chiasmus]

In no way shape off form does beautiful fit on relapse at all its way out off a place on a concept album. Regardless if you like or dont like the song , it doesn't fit one bit.

Did you read the original post all the way through? Couldn't 'beautiful' be the shred of goodness in the album, do you think? Indeed, it's not about whether you like the song or not, but can you see parallels between Relapse and the poem I mentioned?

The wiki page for 'Vultures' can be found here by the way - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultures_(poem)?wasRedirected=true

[IcedSlim Shady]

^ It depends on how you look at Relapse. You probably see it differently than I do. Beautiful fits for me, especially on a concept album such as Relapse. Has no one else honestly noticed that during Must Be The Ganja, he starts to lose the accent? For the rest of the album, the tone is much different than the other part of the album

I think the same. For me beautiful is the moment when eminem changed.. beautiful introduces relapse 2 such as underground

[KieranLewisEM]

Relapse is not one bit connected to beautiful at all lol.still has the accent on must be the ganja, i think ur reaching out there saying he is starting loosing it.It was just a random song from around rehab that he put on a dated concept album for his own personal reason that for me was a wrong decision.

[Norway kills]

Beautiful was way too good to be scrapped, so it was included even though it wasn't exacly fitting. At least that's what I think.

[mdemaz]

It's a good song.

[EminemInsider]

It fits as the one song from the Pills-bury Doughboy days that Eminem can tolerate.

It just should never have been released as a single. It's sub-par work and he knows it...and now it's one of the songs people associate with him.

[Elision]

EmBase

[xxTrigger1989xx]

If you look at Relapse's tracklist...very little is actually serial-killer themed. Let's see:

3AM
Same Song & Dance
Stay Wide Awake

Those are the only three songs solely dedicated to anything serial-killer based. He mentions naming serial-killers in Must Be The Ganja and...that's all I can think of

Seems pretty serial-killer based to me

Anyways, back on topic, Beautiful. I feel it fits with the album, why? Because like all of Em's album, it's part of the story. Starting with...

- The Mr. Mathers skit => Obviously it's a skit about when the paramedics found him passed out in the washroom

- Deja Vu => Basically talking about the drugs, the usage and how addicted he was prior to the very moment he passed out and went to the hospital and inevitably, the eye-opener for him to go to rehab.

- Beautiful => The song seems like a recollection of everything that happened prior to his entrance into rehab. "I'm just so fuckin depressed I just can't seem to get out this slump" It's Em coming to terms that he has a drug problem. He wrote it in rehab, so it makes chronological sense to place this song right after a song depicting his overdose. His outro , obviously a shout out to his family and fans while IN rehab. It just fits.

- Crack A Bottle => His resurgence back to the world, "the platinum trio is back on you hos". Also fitting with his album-story.

I am so glad that someone finally realizes it. Beautiful fits perfectly in the story, it's kinda like his redemption. But people who view Relapse one-dimensionally wouldn't think of it like that

[chiasmus]

:wave: EmBase

Waiting for his infamous, "It sticks out like a sore thumb" line lol

I did make this thread partly with Embase in mind, I'm sure if he reads the orignal post through he will consider it properly, as I'm only making a suggestion as to how the song can be seen to fit in with the album. Embase generally makes good discussion.